Protests, blocked traffic to mark Obama's arrival

Published: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 8:56 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 8:56 p.m.

President Obama's return to the mountains Wednesday will bring out protesters and stop traffic temporarily along area roads. But many local Democrats say they won't be lining the motorcade route.

“Once everybody found out it was a closed meeting, we kind of forgot about it,” said Rose Stone, treasurer of the Henderson County Democrats.

Party Chair Shelly Kingsley thinks Obama's fourth visit to the Asheville area is “very exciting,” but said the local party had no plans to greet the president.

Both the president's arrival at Asheville Regional Airport and his remarks at the Linamar Corporation in Arden are closed to the public, the White House press office said.

On the heels of his State of the Union address, Obama will travel to Linamar's plant to discuss “strengthening the economy for the middle class and those striving to get there,” the White House said.

Linamar announced in June 2011 that it was reopening the shuttered Volvo Construction plant in Arden to produce engine blocks and axle components for use in manufacturing heavy-duty construction equipment, creating 400 jobs and investing $125 million by 2020. A second phase is expected to add another 250 jobs, according to AdvantageWest, a regional economic development partnership.

Members of the Asheville Tea Party and affiliated groups plan to stage a protest near the entrance to Linamar's entrance on Hendersonville Road from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Picketers with signs will call attention to the president's stance on guns, health care and other issues, a Tea Party action alert said.

Other groups representing environmental and animal rights concerns are also planning to set up protests near Linamar's entrance, including members of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, who want Obama to close a captive bear park, and a coalition of green groups called Asheville Beyond Coal.

Neither the N.C. Highway Patrol nor the White House would confirm the travel route taken by Obama's motorcade, but security vehicles will block traffic en route between Linamar and the airport sometime between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

The two most likely motorcade paths are from Airport Road to Hendersonville Road and along Interstate 26 to Long Shoals Road.

<p>President Obama's return to the mountains Wednesday will bring out protesters and stop traffic temporarily along area roads. But many local Democrats say they won't be lining the motorcade route.</p><p>“Once everybody found out it was a closed meeting, we kind of forgot about it,” said Rose Stone, treasurer of the Henderson County Democrats. </p><p>Party Chair Shelly Kingsley thinks Obama's fourth visit to the Asheville area is “very exciting,” but said the local party had no plans to greet the president. </p><p>Both the president's arrival at Asheville Regional Airport and his remarks at the Linamar Corporation in Arden are closed to the public, the White House press office said. </p><p>On the heels of his State of the Union address, Obama will travel to Linamar's plant to discuss “strengthening the economy for the middle class and those striving to get there,” the White House said. </p><p>Linamar announced in June 2011 that it was reopening the shuttered Volvo Construction plant in Arden to produce engine blocks and axle components for use in manufacturing heavy-duty construction equipment, creating 400 jobs and investing $125 million by 2020. A second phase is expected to add another 250 jobs, according to AdvantageWest, a regional economic development partnership.</p><p>Members of the Asheville Tea Party and affiliated groups plan to stage a protest near the entrance to Linamar's entrance on Hendersonville Road from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Picketers with signs will call attention to the president's stance on guns, health care and other issues, a Tea Party action alert said.</p><p>Other groups representing environmental and animal rights concerns are also planning to set up protests near Linamar's entrance, including members of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, who want Obama to close a captive bear park, and a coalition of green groups called Asheville Beyond Coal.</p><p>Neither the N.C. Highway Patrol nor the White House would confirm the travel route taken by Obama's motorcade, but security vehicles will block traffic en route between Linamar and the airport sometime between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.</p><p>The two most likely motorcade paths are from Airport Road to Hendersonville Road and along Interstate 26 to Long Shoals Road.</p><p>--Staff Writer Joey Millwood contributed to this story.</p>